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Stephen asked Clea out for dinner the moment she stepped out of the interdimensional portal, the Dark Dimension still visible behind her.
"Do you like Italian food?"
"The food of your world is delectable. I find some textures unusual but I've never encountered something I didn't like."
Her answer made him smile. The women he had dated before had been picky eaters. It might seem frivolous, but it was a major turn off for him. It was extremely frustrating having a meal with someone who refused to try new things.
"Would you like to go out with me? They've opened a restaurant just around the corner, it's really close to the Sanctum so we could just walk. I've heard their lasagna is delicious and the service..."
Clea silenced his rambling with her lips and her tongue. He loved the way she grabbed him by the back of his neck while she kissed him slow and deep. The heat of her hand was grounding and comforting. He had missed her so much during the two weeks she had been in the Dark Dimension. Stephen needed to get used to her absences though. Clea had duties to attend to the same way he had duties as the Earth's defender against mystical threats. Sensing that his mind was starting to wander she wound her fingers in his hair and pulled hard. He moaned into the kiss and she pulled his hair again. Stephen wrapped his arms around her and wished she wasn't wearing armor. He wanted her flush against his body. Suddenly, his wish came true. Clea was now wearing a purple tulle dress. He whimpered when he felt her nipples through the delicate fabric, brushing against his shirt. She bit his bottom lip gently and broke the kiss.
"I would have come sooner if I could."
"I know."
She smiled at him, her fingers caressing his scalp.
"What do you think of the dress? Is it acceptable for our dinner date?"
He stared at it and chuckled. Calling it a dress was ludicrous. Clea was wearing a gown fit for a queen. It was long, strapless, and diaphanous. She looked divine. Maybe I should take her someplace else, a place worthy of such a vision...
"It's more than acceptable."
"Your eyes are telling me I've overdone it."
Clea made a gesture with her left hand and the purple tulle gown changed into a lilac velvet dress. It had long sleeves, it was tighter, and shorter. She still looked breathtaking.
"I'm going to get dressed. I'll be right back."
"Aren't you dressed?"
She looked at his navy blue slacks and white shirt in confusion.
"It's not a casual date. I need to look my best. Specially when my partner looks like a goddess."
He said it jokingly but he meant every word. Clea was an amazing woman and he didn't want to fall short.
"You always look your best. You're beautiful, Stephen."
He would never get used to hearing her say that. Stephen was in great shape and he knew how to carry himself. But he wasn't beautiful. Handsome? Yes. However beauty was a more conventional thing and nothing about his looks was conventional. So he just smiled and went to his personal quarters to get changed. Half an hour later, he walked down the main staircase of the Sanctum Sanctorum in a black suit, crisp white dress shirt and purple tie. Clea was waiting for him in the entrance hall, an appraising glint in her green eyes. When he was within reach she ruffled his slicked back hair. Stephen arched his eyebrows questioningly.
"I like the messy look. It's sexy."
There was a fire in her eyes that burned him to the core.
"Do you want to skip dinner and go straight to dessert?"
In other circumstances he would have cringed as soon as he said that. But Stephen was too aroused to give a damn about how cheesy that line was.
"I want to go out and enjoy a nice meal. Then we'll talk about sex."
"Talk about sex?"
"We need to discuss your limits. I don't want to do anything that might hurt you physically or emotionally."
"What about your limits?"
She smiled reassuringly at him.
"Don't worry, I'll answer all your questions after dinner."
"Okay, okay... Let's go then."
When they left the Sanctum, Stephen offered his arm and Clea placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. He smiled at her before confessing how much he had missed her.
"I missed you too, Stephen."